Murcia schoolchildren plant trees to boost sustainability in city programme

Murcia’s Luis Costa school was transformed into a nature classroom with the participation of 150 schoolchildren in planting new trees, promoting the sustainability of the municipality, a healthy admiration for nature, and the education of Murcia’s small “Guardians of Nature.” The students helped to plant 12 new trees at the centre: eight privet trees and four mulberry trees.

Some 150 young schoolchildren help to plant trees in their area

During the activity, the children, all aged around five or six years old, participated in an environmental workshop and actively helped to plant the trees, fostering respect for the environment at an early age. The initiative was part of the Forest Plan, an ongoing plan to extend the green areas of the municipality through educational programmes like the one that took place at the Luis Costa Public School of Infant and Primary Education.

This plan will also aim to mitigate the effects of climate change. To date, the plantings carried out under this program have absorbed more than 7.3 million kilograms of carbon dioxide, significantly improving the resilience and livability of the city and its outer districts.

The choice of the Luis Costa educational centre was also strategic; the school has an active Ecology Committee that works daily on sustainability values. Students will also establish an emotional connection with these trees, which will grow along with them during their school years and help to foster values of responsibility and respect for the environment in the little ones.

In addition to the tree-planting, the students also showcased original performances they created themselves, centred around showing a commitment to protecting the environment through art.

Nearly 40,000 trees in Murcia: Green companions that will grow alongside the children

The initiative raised the grand total of trees in the municipality to 36,875. These types of trees were selected for their suitability for school environments and their ability to provide ample natural shade, as well as their ability to improve air quality and reduce temperatures in playgrounds.

According to the Murcia City Council, “Mulberry trees, in particular, are highly valued in schools for their rapid growth and ability to create dense shade during the hottest months, improving the thermal comfort of students. Privet, for its part, provides a perennial structure and great resilience to the urban environment, ensuring biodiversity on school grounds year-round.”